Stump-puller



C. D. PACE.

STUMP FULLER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1 6, l 919- Patented May SHEETS C. D. PACE.

STUMP FULLER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,1919.

- Patented May 11, 1920;

3 SHEETSSHEET 3- UN [TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL -D. PAGE, OF OXFORD, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH C.

- WHEELER, OF ANNISTON, ALABAMA.

STUMP-PULLER.

Application filed July 16, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL D. PACE, a citizenof the United States, residing at Oxford, in the county of Calhoun and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stump-Pullers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in stump pullers, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which may be readily and conveniently positioned with respect to the work and which is provided with means whereby the same may be effectively operated to create the requisite pull or strain.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character including a winding member and a power member, together with means whereby the winding member may be driven by the power member and wherein either of saidmembers may be moved, one independently of the other.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character which. is of foldable'type and wherein a tractor or other source of power independent of the device may be employed to create the requisite pulling action.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved stump puller whereby certain important adi' antages are attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise" more convenient and advantageous'for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The *novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a stump puller constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in operative connection with a stump to be extracted."

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1920.

Serial No. 311,264.

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the mounting of the power drum.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in front elevation of the upper portion of the device as herein embodied.

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of the upper portion of the device as herein set forth.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in section illustrating the coaction of a holding member with a winding member or element.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a View in side elevation'ill'us trating a stump puller constructed in accordance with a further embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of the structure disclosed in Fig. 7, the operating shaft being in section.

As disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, my improved device is mounted upon a pair of transeversely spaced runners R arranged substantially in parallelism and having its opposite end portions upturned as indicated at 11 in order to facilitate the travel thereof over the ground. It is preferred that each of the runners R be of channel formation with the open face upwardly directed. It is also preferred that each of the runners R be disposed transeversely on a predetermined incline, illustrated in Fig. 6. By this arrangement the travel of the runner over the ground is materially benefitted and at the same time the machine'in its entirety is effectively held against lateral movement and also to hold the runners against-sepa rate movement and particularly in the event of excessive load being imposed uponthe device.

Positioned at a desired distance above the runners R and inwardly thereof is a pair of substantially transversely alined heads or castings 2. Each of the castings 2 is supported in desired position by a plurality of beams or irons 3. Each set orseries of beams or irons 3 are preferably threein' number with their lower extremities suitably anchored to the runner and said beams or irons are arranged upwardly in convergence. The upper end portion of each of the beams or irons 8snugly fits within a socket 1 provided in the lower face of the head or casting 2.

Resting upon the heads or castings 2 and rigidly held thereto by the clamps 5 or the like is a non-rotatable shaft 6. Loosely mounted upon the shaft 6 is a pair of longitudinally spaced winding members or wheels 7 and the periphery of each of said members or wheels 7 has disposed therearound in a conventional manner the teeth 8.

Interposed between the members or wheels 7 is a sleeve 9 surrounding the shaft 6 and having its opposite end portions suitably engaged with the hub portions 7 of the members or wheels 7. It is preferred that the sleeve 9 be loosely engaged with the hub portions 7 in order to assure equal strain upon the members or wheels 7 as imposed thereupon by the driving member to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

The forward beam or iron 3 of each runner R is connected by a transversely disposed rigid member or beam 10 and the opposite end beams or irons 3 are similarly connected by the rigid member or beam 11, the member or beam 11 being positioned at apredetermined point below the member or beam 10.

Secured to the forward member or beam 10 adjacent the opposite ends thereof are the substantially horizontally arranged and ,rearwardly directed elongated plates 12 preferably metallic.

The rear end portion of each of the plates 12 is continued by a downwardly and inwardly inclined extension 1%- suitably anchored to the adjacent member or beam11.

15 denotes a driving shaft disposed transversely of the device and positioned below the stationary shaft 6. The shaft 15 is substantially in vertical alinement with the shaft 6 and the opposite end portions of the shaft 15 are rotatably supported by the bearings 16 mounted upon the plates 12. In the present embodiment of my invention, each of the bearings 16 is held to its plate 12 by the bolts 17 and each of which bolts is directed through an inwardly directed lug 18 carried by a head or casting 2. By this means the bolts 17 not only hold the bearings 16 in applied position, but also serve as a support for the plates 12. By this arrangement it is also possible to raise or lower the plates 12'as the occasions of practi'ce may necessitate and particularly to assure the proper mesh of the pinions 19 with the teeth 8 of the members or wheels 7 The pinions 19' are suitably keyed or otherwise fixed to the shaft 15 and are of a shrouded type. The flange 20 of one of the pinions 19 constitutes a ratchet gear with which coacts the dogs or pawls 21 carried by the power member or drum D. The power member or drum D is loosely mounted upon the shaft 15 and has independent rotation around said shaft in one direction but upon rotation in the opposite direction said power member or drum D through the instrumentality of the dogs or pawls 21 and the ratchet teeth 20, rotates the shaft 15 with the resultant desired rotation of the winding members or wheels 7. The dogs or pawls 21 are constantly urged toward the ratchet 21 by a spring 22 as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying draw- Clamped or otherwise fastened to the inner faces of the members or wheels 7 ad jacent the hub portions thereof are the extremities of an'endless flexible member M, preferably a cable. The stretches of the member or cable M pass below the sleeve 9 and the intermediate portion of said memher or cable M is adapted to be suitably engaged with the stump to be extracted and preferably in connection with the hitch H. The particular construction of the hitch H is embodied in a co-pending application executed on even date herewith.

Connecting the rear portions of the plates 12 is a rod 28 which serves to hold the plates 12 against relative lateral movement and loosely mounted upon the rod 23 and in alinement with the drum D is a guide pulley 24:.

A cable C or'the like is adapted to be engaged with the member or drum D and to extend therefrom beneath the pulley 24. The cable C is adapted to be fastened to a tractor or other source of power for creating the requisite operation of the device.

lVhen strain is imposed upon the cable 0, the drum D will be caused to rotate in a directionresulting in an upward and. rearward rotation of the members or wheels 7 so that the stretches of the member or cable M will be wrapped around the sleeve 9 from below. As the member or cable M wraps around the sleeve 9 through the medium of the members or wheels 7 sufficient strain will be imposed upon said member or cable M to extract the stump.

In initially engaging the member or cable M with the stump there must of necessity be a certain amount of slack and in order to take up this slack the power member or drum is brought into operation, the shaft 15 is initially rotated, preferably by a crank 25 and this rotation of the shaft 15 is independent of the power member or drum D and which is permitted through the medium of the coacting ratchet 20 and dogs or pawls 21 hereinbefore referred to. After the member or cable M has beenrendered sufficiently taut, the power member or drum D is then rotated-by desired pull upon the cable C.

In the use of a tractor or kindred sources of power it often occurs, due'to'obstructions or to a limited path of travel, it is necessary to bring the tractor or the like to a standstill and to run the same back toward the device. This return travel of the tractor or the like of necessity creates a slack in the cable C. In'order to take up this slack the member or drum D can be manually rotated in the requisite direction, and which, in the present embodiment of my invention, is done by direct engagement with the memher or drum D. This retrograde movement of the member or drum D is independent of the members or wheels 7 and particularly when said members or wheels 7 are sustaining a load. For this reason it is imperative that the members or wheels 7 be held against retrograde movement and in the present embodiment of my invention this is accomplished through the medium of. the holding member coacting with each of the members or wheels 7. Each of the holding members as herein embodied comprises an elongated and substantially U-shaped member 26, preferably formed of rod iron and having its free end portions loosely engaged with the beam or member 10 so that the said holding member may be readily swung into or out of engagement with a member or wheel 7 as the occasions of practice may require. The holding member 26 is normally maintained in engagement with the wheel or member 7 by gravity and the intermediate portion 26" thereof is adapted to engage between adjacent teeth 8. The intermediate portion 26 is arranged on such inclination as to permit unobstructed rotation of the member or wheel 7 in one direction and to effectively lock the same against movement in the opposite direction.

In the embodiment of my invention as particularly illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the heads or castings 2 are supported in substantially the same manner as has hereinbefore been disclosed with respect to the heads or castings 2. The stationary shaft 6 supported by the heads or castings 2 has loosel mounted thereon the winding member or drum 27 and an end portion of the drum or winding member 27 is provided with a worm gear 28 with which engages the worm 29. The worm 2-9 is carried by a shaft 30 rotatably supported by the beams or members l0 and 11, said shaft 30 extending in a direction longitudinally of the device. The shaft 30 has affixed to the end portion thereof a ratchet gear 31 with which coact the dogs or. pawls 32 carried by the power member or drum D. By this means the shaft 31 may be readily rotated in one direction by the crank 25 or the like to take up the initial slack in the member of cable M. eacting with the drum or power member D is a cable C herein disclosed as extending beneath aguide pulley 33 suitably engaged with a runner R. The cable G is adapted to be fixed to the tractor or other source of power as has heretofore been stated with respect to the cable C. It will also be understood that the power member or drum D can be independently rotated in one direction with respect to the shaft 30 to take up any slack which may occur in the cable C.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a stump puller constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not .wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts h'erein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 1. A stump puller comprising a frame, a driving shaft supported thereby, a winding element rotatably supported by the frame and in driven connection with the shaft, a power drum loosely mounted upon the shaft, coacting means carried by the shaft and the power drum whereby said drum and shaft rotate in unison upon movement of the drum in one direction, and means for rotating the shaft independently of the drum.

2. A stump puller comprising a frame, a driving shaft supported thereby, a winding element rotatably supported by the frame and in driven connection with the shaft, a power drum loosely mounted upon the shaft, coacting means carried by the shaft and the power drum whereby said drum and shaft rotate in unison upon movement of the drum in one direction, means "for rotating the shaft independently of the drum, said drum being freely rotatable upon I the shaft in the opposite direction, and means for normally holding the winding element against rotation in one direction.

3. A stump puller comprising a pair -of spaced heads, means for supporting said heads, a stationary shaft supported by and secured to said heads, a winding element rotatably mounted on said shaft, a power shaft in driving connection with the winding element, a drum mounted upon the power shaft and rotating the shaft upon rotation of the drum in one direction only, a power cable coacting with the drum, and means for rotating the power shaft inde pendently of the drum.

4. A stump puller comprising a pair of spaced heads, members engaged'with said heads for supporting the same, a stationary shaft supported by the heads, plates supported by the members and spaced apart in the same general direction as the heads, a driving shaft rotatably supported by the plates, a Winding element carried by the stationary shaft and in driven connection with the driving shaft, and means coacting with the heads and the plates for adjusting said shafts one relative to the other.

A stump puller comprising a pair of spaced heads, members engaged With said heads for supporting the same, a stationary shaft supported by the heads, plates supported by the members and spaced apart in the same general direction as the heads, a driving shaft rotatably supported by the plates, a Winding element carried by the stationary shaft and in driven connection with the driving shaft, means coacting with the heads and the plates for adjusting said shafts one relative to the other, said last named means also constituting supports for the plates. p

6. A stump puller comprising a pair of spaced heads, members engaged With said heads for supporting the same, a stationary shaft supported by the heads, plates supported by the members and spaced apart in the same general direction as the heads,

a driving shaft rotatably supported by the 

